MBOMBELA – The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea) has denied any negligence on its part in the uncertainty faced by its former employees, who now work for the University of Mpumalanga (UMP).
Employees who formerly worked for the department at the Lowveld Agriculture College (LAC) recently embarked on a strike over the loss of access to their pension funds, life insurance and medical-aid benefits when UMP took over their employ at the end of December. They barricaded themselves in the university’s premises by parking three tractors in front of the entrances.
As government employees, the lecturers, administration clerks and cleaners had been members of the Government Pension Fund (GPF), a fund in which UMP does not participate. When they were informed that a Section 197 transfer agreement had not been completed between the old and new employers, they staged a strike.
This week, Dardlea said by mouth of department spokesman, Mr Bheki Nyathikazi that the transfer agreement had been signed by the department and transferred it to UMP for finalisation.
“Dardlea has transferred the employees as per agreement and decisions taken in consultative meetings. Where there are ongoing concerns the department will participate.”
Prof Thoko Mayekiso, the vice-chancellor of the university, said last week that UMP had also been shocked to discover that the transferred employees could no longer be members of their former funds. She said the university council has since approved new pension and medical-aid funds to which the employees could belong. UMP management has undertaken to set up a task team to assist in resolving the situation. Employees were also assured that their jobs were secure.
